diff options
| author | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-02-05 09:50:54 -0800 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-02-05 09:50:54 -0800 |
| commit | db36ac49ab05e766dc07818e7445df0685436e12 (patch) | |
| tree | f65935d760ad6278a8b40a7372ec1bc90c8b6f9f | |
| parent | 03b10f35b2fa64be94fc15c3d4e2c7f0680ce850 (diff) | |
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 4 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/51353-h.zip | bin | 310096 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/51353-h/51353-h.htm | 1433 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/51353-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 107291 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/51353-h/images/illus1.jpg | bin | 80389 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/51353-h/images/illus2.jpg | bin | 96836 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/51353.txt | 1301 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/51353.zip | bin | 24517 -> 0 bytes |
10 files changed, 17 insertions, 2734 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1346763 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #51353 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/51353) diff --git a/old/51353-h.zip b/old/51353-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 2b74516..0000000 --- a/old/51353-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/51353-h/51353-h.htm b/old/51353-h/51353-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 748f9a8..0000000 --- a/old/51353-h/51353-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1433 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" - "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> - <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=us-ascii" /> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> - <title> - The Project Gutenberg eBook of Dr. Kometevsky's Day, by Fritz Leiber. - </title> - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - - <style type="text/css"> - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - - h1,h2 { - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; -} - -p { - margin-top: .51em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .49em; -} - -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: 33.5%; - margin-right: 33.5%; - clear: both; -} - -hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} -hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} - -.center {text-align: center;} - -.right {text-align: right;} - -.caption {font-weight: bold;} - -/* Images */ -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; -} - -div.titlepage { - text-align: center; - page-break-before: always; - page-break-after: always; -} - -div.titlepage p { - text-align: center; - text-indent: 0em; - font-weight: bold; - line-height: 1.5; - margin-top: 3em; -} - -.ph1, .ph2, .ph3, .ph4 { text-align: center; text-indent: 0em; font-weight: bold; } -.ph1 { font-size: xx-large; margin: .67em auto; } -.ph2 { font-size: x-large; margin: .75em auto; } -.ph3 { font-size: large; margin: .83em auto; } -.ph4 { font-size: medium; margin: 1.12em auto; } - -.poetry .stanza -{ - margin: 1em auto; -} - -.poetry .verse -{ - padding-left: 3em; -} - - - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Dr. Kometevsky's Day, by Fritz Leiber - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: Dr. Kometevsky's Day - -Author: Fritz Leiber - -Release Date: March 5, 2016 [EBook #51353] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DR. KOMETEVSKY'S DAY *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/cover.jpg" width="362" height="500" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="titlepage"> -<h1>DR. KOMETEVSKY'S DAY</h1> - -<p>By FRITZ LEIBER</p> - -<p>Illustrated by DAVID STONE</p> - -<p>[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from<br /> -Galaxy Science Fiction February 1952.<br /> -Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that<br /> -the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]</p> - -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus1.jpg" width="600" height="387" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="ph3"><i>Before science, there was superstition. After<br /> -science, there will be ... what? The biggest,<br /> -most staggering</i>, most final <i>fact of them all!</i></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>"But it's all predicted here! It even names this century for the next -reshuffling of the planets."</p> - -<p>Celeste Wolver looked up unwillingly at the book her friend Madge -Carnap held aloft like a torch. She made out the ill-stamped title, -<i>The Dance of the Planets</i>. There was no mistaking the time of -its origin; only paper from the Twentieth Century aged to that -particularly nasty shade of brown. Indeed, the book seemed to Celeste -a brown old witch resurrected from the Last Age of Madness to confound -a world growing sane, and she couldn't help shrinking back a trifle -toward her husband Theodor.</p> - -<p>He tried to come to her rescue. "Only predicted in the vaguest way. As -I understand it, Kometevsky claimed, on the basis of a lot of evidence -drawn from folklore, that the planets and their moons trade positions -every so often."</p> - -<p>"As if they were playing Going to Jerusalem, or musical chairs," -Celeste chimed in, but she couldn't make it sound funny.</p> - -<p>"Jupiter was supposed to have started as the outermost planet, and is -to end up in the orbit of Mercury," Theodor continued. "Well, nothing -at all like that has happened."</p> - -<p>"But it's begun," Madge said with conviction. "Phobos and Deimos have -disappeared. You can't argue away that stubborn little fact."</p> - -<p>That was the trouble; you couldn't. Mars' two tiny moons had simply -vanished during a period when, as was generally the case, the eyes -of astronomy weren't on them. Just some hundred-odd cubic miles of -rock—the merest cosmic flyspecks—yet they had carried away with them -the security of a whole world.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Looking at the lovely garden landscape around her, Celeste Wolver felt -that in a moment the shrubby hills would begin to roll like waves, the -charmingly aimless paths twist like snakes and sink in the green sea, -the sparsely placed skyscrapers dissolve into the misty clouds they -pierced.</p> - -<p><i>People must have felt like this</i>, she thought, <i>when Aristarches first -hinted and Copernicus told them that the solid Earth under their feet -was falling dizzily through space. Only it's worse for us, because they -couldn't see that anything had changed. We can.</i></p> - -<p>"You need something to cling to," she heard Madge say. "Dr. Kometevsky -was the only person who ever had an inkling that anything like this -might happen. I was never a Kometevskyite before. Hadn't even heard of -the man."</p> - -<p>She said it almost apologetically. In fact, standing there so frank and -anxious-eyed, Madge looked anything but a fanatic, which made it much -worse.</p> - -<p>"Of course, there are several more convincing alternate -explanations...." Theodor began hesitantly, knowing very well that -there weren't. If Phobos and Deimos had suddenly disintegrated, -surely Mars Base would have noticed something. Of course there was the -Disordered Space Hypothesis, even if it was little more than the chance -phrase of a prominent physicist pounded upon by an eager journalist. -And in any case, what sense of security were you left with if you -admitted that moons and planets might explode, or drop through unseen -holes in space? So he ended up by taking a different tack: "Besides, if -Phobos and Deimos simply shot off somewhere, surely they'd have been -picked up by now by 'scope or radar."</p> - -<p>"Two balls of rock just a few miles in diameter?" Madge questioned. -"Aren't they smaller than many of the asteroids? I'm no astronomer, but -I think' I'm right."</p> - -<p>And of course she was.</p> - -<p>She swung the book under her arm. "Whew, it's heavy," she observed, -adding in slightly scandalized tones, "Never been microfilmed." She -smiled nervously and looked them up and down. "Going to a party?" she -asked.</p> - -<p>Theodor's scarlet cloak and Celeste's green culottes and silver jacket -justified the question, but they shook their heads.</p> - -<p>"Just the normally flamboyant garb of the family," Celeste said, -while Theodor explained, "As it happens, we're bound on business -connected with the disappearance. We Wolvers practically constitute -a sub-committee of the Congress for the Discovery of New Purposes. -And since a lot of varied material comes to our attention, we're -going to see if any of it correlates with this bit of astronomical -sleight-of-hand."</p> - -<p>Madge nodded. "Give you something to do, at any rate. Well, I must be -off. The Buddhist temple has lent us their place for a meeting." She -gave them a woeful grin. "See you when the Earth jumps."</p> - -<p>Theodor said to Celeste, "Come on, dear. We'll be late."</p> - -<p>But Celeste didn't want to move too fast. "You know, Teddy," she said -uncomfortably, "all this reminds me of those old myths where too much -good fortune is a sure sign of coming disaster. It was just too much -luck, our great-grandparents missing World III and getting the World -Government started a thousand years ahead of schedule. Luck like that -couldn't last, evidently. Maybe we've gone too fast with a lot of -things, like space-flight and the Deep Shaft and—" she hesitated a -bit—"complex marriages. I'm a woman. I want complete security. Where -am I to find it?"</p> - -<p>"In me," Theodor said promptly.</p> - -<p>"In you?" Celeste questioned, walking slowly. "But you're just -one-third of my husband. Perhaps I should look for it in Edmund or -Ivan."</p> - -<p>"You angry with me about something?"</p> - -<p>"Of course not. But a woman wants her source of security whole. In a -crisis like this, it's disturbing to have it divided."</p> - -<p>"Well, we are a whole and, I believe, indivisible family," Theodor -told her warmly. "You're not suggesting, are you, that we're going to -be punished for our polygamous sins by a cosmic catastrophe? Fire from -Heaven and all that?"</p> - -<p>"Don't be silly. I just wanted to give you a picture of my feeling." -Celeste smiled. "I guess none of us realized how much we've come to -depend on the idea of unchanging scientific law. Knocks the props from -under you."</p> - -<p>Theodor nodded emphatically. "All the more reason to get a line on -what's happening as quickly as possible. You know, it's fantastically -far-fetched, but I think the experience of persons with Extra-Sensory -Perception may give us a clue. During the past three or four days -there's been a remarkable similarity in the dreams of ESPs all over the -planet. I'm going to present the evidence at the meeting."</p> - -<p>Celeste looked up at him. "So that's why Rosalind's bringing Frieda's -daughter?"</p> - -<p>"Dotty is your daughter, too, and Rosalind's," Theodor reminded her.</p> - -<p>"No, just Frieda's," Celeste said bitterly. "Of course you may be the -father. One-third of a chance."</p> - -<p>Theodor looked at her sharply, but didn't comment. "Anyway, Dotty will -be there," he said. "Probably asleep by now. All the ESPs have suddenly -seemed to need more sleep."</p> - -<p>As they talked, it had been growing darker, though the luminescence of -the path kept it from being bothersome. And now the cloud rack parted -to the east, showing a single red planet low on the horizon.</p> - -<p>"Did you know," Theodor said suddenly, "that in <i>Gulliver's Travels</i> -Dean Swift predicted that better telescopes would show Mars to have two -moons? He got the sizes and distances and periods damned accurately, -too. One of the few really startling coincidences of reality and -literature."</p> - -<p>"Stop being eerie," Celeste said sharply. But then she went on, "Those -names Phobos and Deimos—they're Greek, aren't they? What do they mean?"</p> - -<p>Theodor lost a step. "Fear and Terror," he said unwillingly. "Now -don't go taking that for an omen. Most of the mythological names of -major and minor ancient gods had been taken—the bodies in the Solar -System are named that way, of course—and these were about all that -were available."</p> - -<p>It was true, but it didn't comfort him much.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><i>I am a God</i>, Dotty was dreaming, <i>and I want to be by myself and -think. I and my god-friends like to keep some of our thoughts secret, -but the other gods have forbidden us to.</i></p> - -<p>A little smile flickered across the lips of the sleeping girl, and -the woman in gold tights and gold-spangled jacket leaned forward -thoughtfully. In her dignity and simplicity and straight-spined grace, -she was rather like a circus mother watching her sick child before she -went out for the trapeze act.</p> - -<p><i>I and my god-friends sail off in our great round silver boats</i>, Dotty -went on dreaming. <i>The other gods are angry and scared. They are -frightened of the thoughts we may think in secret. They follow us to -hunt us down. There are many more of them than of us.</i></p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>As Celeste and Theodor entered the committee room, Rosalind Wolver—a -glitter of platinum against darkness—came in through the opposite -door and softly shut it behind her. Frieda, a fair woman in blue robes, -got up from the round table.</p> - -<p>Celeste turned away with outward casualness as Theodor kissed his two -other wives. She was pleased to note that Edmund seemed impatient too. -A figure in close-fitting black, unrelieved except for two red arrows -at the collar, he struck her as embodying very properly the serious, -fateful temper of the moment.</p> - -<p>He took two briefcases from his vest pocket and tossed them down on the -table beside one of the microfilm projectors.</p> - -<p>"I suggest we get started without waiting for Ivan," he said.</p> - -<p>Frieda frowned anxiously. "It's ten minutes since he phoned from the -Deep Space Bar to say he was starting right away. And that's hardly a -two minutes walk."</p> - -<p>Rosalind instantly started toward the outside door.</p> - -<p>"I'll check," she explained. "Oh, Frieda, I've set the mike so you'll -hear if Dotty calls."</p> - -<p>Edmund threw up his hands. "Very well, then," he said and walked over, -switched on the picture and stared out moodily.</p> - -<p>Theodor and Frieda got out their briefcases, switched on projectors, -and began silently checking through their material.</p> - -<p>Celeste fiddled with the TV and got a newscast. But she found her eyes -didn't want to absorb the blocks of print that rather swiftly succeeded -each other, so, after a few moments, she shrugged impatiently and -switched to audio.</p> - -<p>At the noise, the others looked around at her with surprise and some -irritation, but in a few moments they were also listening.</p> - -<p>"The two rocket ships sent out from Mars Base to explore the orbital -positions of Phobos and Deimos—that is, the volume of space they'd be -occupying if their positions had remained normal—report finding masses -of dust and larger debris. The two masses of fine debris are moving -in the same orbits and at the same velocities as the two vanished -moons, and occupy roughly the same volumes of space, though the mass -of material is hardly a hundredth that of the moons. Physicists have -ventured no statements as to whether this constitutes a confirmation of -the Disintegration Hypothesis.</p> - -<p>"However, we're mighty pleased at this news here. There's a marked -lessening of tension. The finding of the debris—solid, tangible -stuff—seems to lift the whole affair out of the supernatural miasma in -which some of us have been tempted to plunge it. One-hundredth of the -moons has been found.</p> - -<p>"The rest will also be!"</p> - -<p>Edmund had turned his back on the window. Frieda and Theodor had -switched off their projectors.</p> - -<p>"Meanwhile, Earthlings are going about their business with a minimum -of commotion, meeting with considerable calm the strange threat to -the fabric of their Solar System. Many, of course, are assembled in -churches and humanist temples. Kometevskyites have staged helicopter -processions at Washington, Peking, Pretoria, and Christiana, demanding -that instant preparations be made for—and I quote—'Earth's coming -leap through space.' They have also formally challenged all astronomers -to produce an explanation other than the one contained in that strange -book so recently conjured from oblivion, <i>The Dance of the Planets</i>.</p> - -<p>"That about winds up the story for the present. There are no new -reports from Interplanetary Radar, Astronomy, or the other rocket ships -searching in the extended Mars volume. Nor have any statements been -issued by the various groups working on the problem in Astrophysics, -Cosmic Ecology, the Congress for the Discovery of New Purposes, and so -forth. Meanwhile, however, we can take courage from the words of a poem -written even before Dr. Kometevsky's book:</p> - -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="stanza"> -<div class="verse">"This Earth is not the steadfast place</div> -<div class="verse">We landsmen build upon;</div> -<div class="verse">From deep to deep she varies pace,</div> -<div class="verse">And while she comes is gone.</div> -<div class="verse">Beneath my feet I feel</div> -<div class="verse">Her smooth bulk heave and dip;</div> -<div class="verse">With velvet plunge and soft upreel</div> -<div class="verse">She swings and steadies to her keel</div> -<div class="verse">Like a gallant, gallant ship."</div> -</div></div> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>While the TV voice intoned the poem, growing richer as emotion caught -it up, Celeste looked around her at the others. Frieda, with her -touch of feminine helplessness showing more than ever through her -business-like poise. Theodor leaning forward from his scarlet cloak -thrown back, smiling the half-smile with which he seemed to face even -the unknown. Black Edmund, masking a deep uncertainty with a strong -show of decisiveness.</p> - -<p>In short, her family. She knew their every quirk and foible. And yet -now they seemed to her a million miles away, figures seen through the -wrong end of a telescope.</p> - -<p>Were they really a family? Strong sources of mutual strength and -security to each other? Or had they merely been playing family, -experimenting with their notions of complex marriage like a bunch of -silly adolescents? Butterflies taking advantage of good weather to -wing together in a glamorous, artificial dance—until outraged Nature -decided to wipe them out?</p> - -<p>As the poem was ending, Celeste saw the door open and Rosalind come -slowly in. The Golden Woman's face was white as the paths she had been -treading.</p> - -<p>Just then the TV voice quickened with shock. "News! Lunar Observatory -One reports that, although Jupiter is just about to pass behind the -Sun, a good coronagraph of the planet has been obtained. Checked and -rechecked, it admits of only one interpretation, which Lunar One -feels duty-bound to release. <i>Jupiter's fourteen moons are no longer -visible!</i>"</p> - -<p>The chorus of remarks with which the Wolvers would otherwise have -received this was checked by one thing: the fact that Rosalind seemed -not to hear it. Whatever was on her mind prevented even that incredible -statement from penetrating.</p> - -<p>She walked shakily to the table and put down a briefcase, one end of -which was smudged with dirt.</p> - -<p>Without looking at them, she said, "Ivan left the Deep Space Bar -twenty minutes ago, said he was coming straight here. On my way back -I searched the path. Midway I found this half-buried in the dirt. I -had to tug to get it out—almost as if it had been cemented into the -ground. Do you feel how the dirt seems to be <i>in</i> the leather, as if -it had lain for years in the grave?"</p> - -<p>By now the others were fingering the small case of microfilms they had -seen so many times in Ivan's competent hands. What Rosalind said was -true. It had a gritty, unwholesome feel to it. Also, it felt strangely -heavy.</p> - -<p>"And see what's written on it," she added.</p> - -<p>They turned it over. Scrawled with white pencil in big, hasty, frantic -letters were two words:</p> - -<p>"Going down!"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><i>The other gods</i>, Dotty dreamt, <i>are combing the whole Universe for us. -We have escaped them many times, but now our tricks are almost used up. -There are no doors going out of the Universe and our boats are silver -beacons to the hunters. So we decide to disguise them in the only way -they can be disguised. It is our last chance.</i></p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Edmund rapped the table to gain the family's attention. "I'd say we've -done everything we can for the moment to find Ivan. We've made a -thorough local search. A wider one, which we can't conduct personally, -is in progress. All helpful agencies have been alerted and descriptions -are being broadcast. I suggest we get on with the business of the -evening—which may very well be connected with Ivan's disappearance."</p> - -<p>One by one the others nodded and took their places at the round table. -Celeste made a great effort to throw off the feeling of unreality that -had engulfed her and focus attention on her microfilms.</p> - -<p>"I'll take over Ivan's notes," she heard Edmund say. "They're mainly -about the Deep Shaft."</p> - -<p>"How far have they got with that?" Frieda asked idly. "Twenty-five -miles?"</p> - -<p>"Nearer thirty, I believe," Edmund answered, "and still going down."</p> - -<p>At those last two words they all looked up quickly. Then their eyes -went toward Ivan's briefcase.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><i>Our trick has succeeded</i>, Dotty dreamt. <i>The other gods have passed -our hiding place a dozen times without noticing. They search the -Universe for us many times in vain. They finally decide that we have -found a door going out of the Universe. Yet they fear us all the more. -They think of us as devils who will some day return through the door to -destroy them. So they watch everywhere. We lie quietly smiling in our -camouflaged boats, yet hardly daring to move or think, for fear that -the faintest echoes of our doings will give them a clue. Hundreds of -millions of years pass by. They seem to us no more than drugged hours -in a prison.</i></p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Theodor rubbed his eyes and pushed his chair back from the table. "We -need a break."</p> - -<p>Frieda agreed wearily. "We've gone through everything."</p> - -<p>"Good idea," Edmund said briskly. "I think we've hit on several crucial -points along the way and half disentangled them from the great mass of -inconsequential material. I'll finish up that part of the job right now -and present my case when we're all a bit fresher. Say half an hour?"</p> - -<p>Theodor nodded heavily, pushing up from his chair and hitching his -cloak over a shoulder.</p> - -<p>"I'm going out for a drink," he informed them.</p> - -<p>After several hesitant seconds, Rosalind quietly followed him. Frieda -stretched out on a couch and closed her eyes. Edmund scanned microfilms -tirelessly, every now and then setting one aside.</p> - -<p>Celeste watched him for a minute, then sprang up and started toward the -room where Dotty was asleep. But midway she stopped.</p> - -<p><i>Not my child</i>, she thought bitterly. <i>Frieda's her mother, Rosalind -her nurse. I'm nothing at all. Just one of the husband's girl friends. -A lady of uneasy virtue in a dissolving world.</i></p> - -<p>But then she straightened her shoulders and went on.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Rosalind didn't catch up with Theodor. Her footsteps were silent and -he never looked back along the path whose feeble white glow rose only -knee-high, lighting a low strip of shrub and mossy tree trunk to either -side, no more.</p> - -<p>It was a little chilly. She drew on her gloves, but she didn't hurry. -In fact, she fell farther and farther behind the dipping tail of -his scarlet cloak and his plodding red shoes, which seemed to move -disembodied, like those in the fairy tale.</p> - -<p>When she reached the point where she had found Ivan's briefcase, she -stopped altogether.</p> - -<p>A breeze rustled the leaves, and, moistly brushing her cheek, brought -forest scents of rot and mold. After a bit she began to hear the -furtive scurryings and scuttlings of forest creatures.</p> - -<p>She looked around her half-heartedly, suddenly realizing the futility -of her quest. What clues could she hope to find in this knee-high -twilight? And they'd thoroughly combed the place earlier in the night.</p> - -<p>Without warning, an eerie tingling went through her and she was seized -by a horror of the cold, grainy Earth underfoot—an ancestral terror -from the days when men shivered at ghost stories about graves and tombs.</p> - -<p>A tiny detail persisted in bulking larger and larger in her mind—the -unnaturalness of the way the Earth had impregnated the corner of Ivan's -briefcase, almost as if dirt and leather co-existed in the same space. -She remembered the queer way the partly buried briefcase had resisted -her first tug, like a rooted plant.</p> - -<p>She felt cowed by the mysterious night about her, and literally -dwarfed, as if she had grown several inches shorter. She roused herself -and started forward.</p> - -<p>Something held her feet.</p> - -<p>They were ankle-deep in the path. While she looked in fright and -horror, they began to sink still lower into the ground.</p> - -<p>She plunged frantically, trying to jerk loose. She couldn't. She had -the panicky feeling that the Earth had not only trapped but invaded -her; that its molecules were creeping up between the molecules of her -flesh; that the two were becoming one.</p> - -<p>And she was sinking faster. Now knee-deep, thigh-deep, hip-deep, -waist-deep. She beat at the powdery path with her hands and threw her -body from side to side in agonized frenzy like some sinner frozen in -the ice of the innermost circle of the ancients' hell. And always the -sense of the dark, grainy tide rose inside as well as around her.</p> - -<p>She thought, <i>he'd just have had time to scribble that note on his -briefcase and toss it away.</i> She jerked off a glove, leaned out as -far as she could, and made a frantic effort to drive its fingers into -the powdery path. Then the Earth mounted to her chin, her nose, and -covered her eyes.</p> - -<p>She expected blackness, but it was as if the light of the path stayed -with her, making a little glow all around. She saw roots, pebbles, -black rot, worn tunnels, worms. Tier on tier of them, her vision -penetrating the solid ground. And at the same time, the knowledge that -these same sorts of things were coursing up through her.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>And still she continued to sink at a speed that increased, as if the -law of gravitation applied to her in a diminished way. She dropped from -black soil through gray clay and into pale limestone.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus2.jpg" width="376" height="500" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>Her tortured, rock-permeated lungs sucked at rock and drew in air. She -wondered madly if a volume of air were falling with her through the -stone.</p> - -<p>A glitter of quartz. The momentary openness of a foot-high cavern -with a trickle of water. And then she was sliding down a black basalt -column, half inside it, half inside gold-flecked ore. Then just black -basalt. And always faster.</p> - -<p>It grew hot, then hotter, as if she were approaching the mythical -eternal fires.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>At first glance Theodor thought the Deep Space Bar was empty. Then he -saw a figure hunched monkeylike on the last stool, almost lost in the -blue shadows, while behind the bar, her crystal dress blending with the -tiers of sparkling glasses, stood a grave-eyed young girl who could -hardly have been fifteen.</p> - -<p>The TV was saying, "... in addition, a number of mysterious -disappearances of high-rating individuals have been reported. These -are thought to be cases of misunderstanding, illusory apprehension, -and impulse traveling—a result of the unusual stresses of the time. -Finally, a few suggestible individuals in various parts of the globe, -especially the Indian Peninsula, have declared themselves to be 'gods' -and in some way responsible for current events.</p> - -<p>"It is thought—"</p> - -<p>The girl switched off the TV and took Theodor's order, explaining -casually, "Joe wanted to go to a Kometevskyite meeting, so I took over -for him." When she had prepared Theodor's highball, she announced, -"I'll have a drink with you gentlemen," and squeezed herself a glass of -pomegranate juice.</p> - -<p>The monkeylike figure muttered, "Scotch-and-soda," then turned toward -Edmund and asked, "And what is your reaction to all this, sir?"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Theodor recognized the shrunken wrinkle-seamed face. It was Colonel -Fortescue, a military antique long retired from the Peace Patrol and -reputed to have seen actual fighting in the Last Age of Madness. Now, -for some reason, the face sported a knowing smile.</p> - -<p>Theodor shrugged. Just then the TV "big news" light blinked blue and -the girl switched on audio. The Colonel winked at Theodor.</p> - -<p>"... confirming the disappearance of Jupiter's moons. But two other -utterly fantastic reports have just been received. First, Lunar -Observatory One says that it is visually tracking fourteen small bodies -which it believes may be the lost moons of Jupiter. They are moving -outward from the Solar System at an incredible velocity and are already -beyond the orbit of Saturn!"</p> - -<p>The Colonel said, "Ah!"</p> - -<p>"Second, Palomar reports a large number of dark bodies approaching the -Solar System at an equally incredible velocity. They are at about twice -the distance of Pluto, but closing in fast! We will be on the air with -further details as soon as possible."</p> - -<p>The Colonel said, "Ah-ha!"</p> - -<p>Theodor stared at him. The old man's self-satisfied poise was almost -amusing.</p> - -<p>"Are you a Kometevskyite?" Theodor asked him.</p> - -<p>The Colonel laughed. "Of course not, my boy. Those poor people are -fumbling in the dark. Don't you see what's happened?"</p> - -<p>"Frankly, no."</p> - -<p>The Colonel leaned toward Theodor and whispered gruffly, "The Divine -Plan. God is a military strategist, naturally."</p> - -<p>Then he lifted the scotch-and-soda in his clawlike hand and took a -satisfying swallow.</p> - -<p>"I knew it all along, of course," he went on musingly, "but this last -news makes it as plain as a rocket blast, at least to anyone who knows -military strategy. Look here, my boy, suppose you were commanding a -fleet and got wind of the enemy's approach—what would you do? Why, -you'd send your scouts and destroyers fanning out toward them. Behind -that screen you'd mass your heavy ships. Then—"</p> - -<p>"You don't mean to imply—" Theodor interrupted.</p> - -<p>The girl behind the bar looked at them both cryptically.</p> - -<p>"Of course I do!" the Colonel cut in sharply. "It's a war between the -forces of good and evil. The bright suns and planets are on one side, -the dark on the other. The moons are the destroyers, Jupiter and -Saturn are the big battleships, while we're on a heavy cruiser, I'm -proud to say. We'll probably go into action soon. Be a corking fight, -what? And all by divine strategy!"</p> - -<p>He chuckled and took another big drink. Theodor looked at him sourly. -The girl behind the bar polished a glass and said nothing.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Dotty suddenly began to turn and toss, and a look of terror came over -her sleeping face. Celeste leaned forward apprehensively.</p> - -<p>The child's lips worked and Celeste made out the sleepy-fuzzy words: -"They've found out where we're hiding. They're coming to get us. No! -Please, no!"</p> - -<p>Celeste's reactions were mixed. She felt worried about Dotty and at -the same time almost in terror of her, as if the little girl were an -agent of supernatural forces. She told herself that this fear was an -expression of her own hostility, yet she didn't really believe it. She -touched the child's hand.</p> - -<p>Dotty's eyes opened without making Celeste feel she had quite come -awake. After a bit she looked at Celeste and her little lips parted in -a smile.</p> - -<p>"Hello," she said sleepily. "I've been having such funny dreams." Then, -after a pause, frowning, "I really am a god, you know. It feels very -queer."</p> - -<p>"Yes, dear?" Celeste prompted uneasily. "Shall I call Frieda?"</p> - -<p>The smile left Dotty's lips. "Why do you act so nervous around me?" she -asked. "Don't you love me, Mummy?"</p> - -<p>Celeste started at the word. Her throat closed. Then, very slowly, her -face broke into a radiant smile. "Of course I do, darling. I love you -very much."</p> - -<p>Dotty nodded happily, her eyes already closed again.</p> - -<p>There was a sudden flurry of excited voices beyond the door. Celeste -heard her name called. She stood up.</p> - -<p>"I'm going to have to go out and talk with the others," she said. "If -you want me, dear, just call."</p> - -<p>"Yes, Mummy."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Edmund rapped for attention. Celeste, Frieda, and Theodor glanced -around at him. He looked more frightfully strained, they realized, than -even they felt. His expression was a study in suppressed excitement, -but there were also signs of a knowledge that was almost too -overpowering for a human being to bear.</p> - -<p>His voice was clipped, rapid. "I think it's about time we stopped -worrying about our own affairs and thought of those of the Solar -System, partly because I think they have a direct bearing on the -disappearances of Ivan end Rosalind. As I told you, I've been sorting -out the crucial items from the material we've been presenting. There -are roughly four of those items, as I see it. It's rather like a -mystery story. I wonder if, hearing those four clues, you will come to -the same conclusion I have."</p> - -<p>The others nodded.</p> - -<p>"First, there are the latest reports from Deep Shaft, which, as -you know, has been sunk to investigate deep-Earth conditions. At -approximately twenty-nine miles below the surface, the delvers have -encountered a metallic obstruction which they have tentatively named -the durasphere. It resists their hardest drills, their strongest -corrosives. They have extended a side-tunnel at that level for a -quarter of a mile. Delicate measurements, made possible by the -mirror-smooth metal surface, show that the durasphere has a slight -curvature that is almost exactly equal to the curvature of the Earth -itself. The suggestion is that deep borings made anywhere in the world -would encounter the durasphere at the same depth.</p> - -<p>"Second, the movements of the moons of Mars and Jupiter, and -particularly the debris left behind by the moons of Mars. Granting -Phobos and Deimos had duraspheres proportional in size to that of -Earth, then the debris would roughly equal in amount the material in -those two duraspheres' rocky envelopes. The suggestion is that the -two duraspheres suddenly burst from their envelopes with such titanic -velocity as to leave those disrupted envelopes behind."</p> - -<p>It was deadly quiet in the committee room.</p> - -<p>"Thirdly, the disappearances of Ivan and Rosalind, and especially -the baffling hint—from Ivan's message in one case and Rosalind's -downward-pointing glove in the other—that they were both somehow drawn -into the depths of the Earth.</p> - -<p>"Finally, the dreams of the ESPs, which agree overwhelmingly in the -following points: A group of beings separate themselves from a godlike -and telepathic race because they insist on maintaining a degree of -mental privacy. They flee in great boats or ships of some sort. They -are pursued on such a scale that there is no hiding place for them -anywhere in the universe. In some manner they successfully camouflage -their ships. Eons pass and their still-fanatical pursuers do not -penetrate their secret. Then, suddenly, they are detected."</p> - -<p>Edmund waited. "Do you see what I'm driving at?" he asked hoarsely.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>He could tell from their looks that the others did, but couldn't bring -themselves to put it into words.</p> - -<p>"I suppose it's the time-scale and the value-scale that are so hard for -us to accept," he said softly. "Much more, even, than the size-scale. -The thought that there are creatures in the Universe to whom the whole -career of Man—in fact, the whole career of life—is no more than a few -thousand or hundred thousand years. And to whom Man is no more than a -minor stage property—a trifling part of a clever job of camouflage."</p> - -<p>This time he went on, "Fantasy writers have at times hinted all sorts -of odd things about the Earth—that it might even be a kind of single -living creature, or honeycombed with inhabited caverns, and so on. -But I don't know that any of them have ever suggested that the Earth, -together with all the planets and moons of the Solar System, might -be...."</p> - -<p>In a whisper, Frieda finished for him, "... a camouflaged fleet of -gigantic spherical spaceships."</p> - -<p>"<i>Your guess happens to be the precise truth.</i>"</p> - -<p>At that familiar, yet dreadly unfamiliar voice, all four of them swung -toward the inner door. Dotty was standing there, a sleep-stupefied -little girl with a blanket caught up around her and dragging behind. -Their own daughter. But in her eyes was a look from which they cringed.</p> - -<p>She said, "I am a creature somewhat older than what your geologists -call the Archeozoic Era. I am speaking to you through a number of -telepathically sensitive individuals among your kind. In each case my -thoughts suit themselves to your level of comprehension. I inhabit the -disguised and jetless spaceship which is your Earth."</p> - -<p>Celeste swayed a step forward. "Baby...." she implored.</p> - -<p>Dotty went on, without giving her a glance, "It is true that we planted -the seeds of life on some of these planets simply as part of our -camouflage, just as we gave them a suitable environment for each. And -it is true that now we must let most of that life be destroyed. Our -hiding place has been discovered, our pursuers are upon us, and we must -make one last effort to escape or do battle, since we firmly believe -that the principle of mental privacy to which we have devoted our -existence is perhaps the greatest good in the whole Universe.</p> - -<p>"But it is not true that we look with contempt upon you. Our whole race -is deeply devoted to life, wherever it may come into being, and it is -our rule never to interfere with its development. That was one of -the reasons we made life a part of our camouflage—it would make our -pursuers reluctant to examine these planets too closely.</p> - -<p>"Yes, we have always cherished you and watched your evolution with -interest from our hidden lairs. We may even unconsciously have shaped -your development in certain ways, trying constantly to educate you away -from war and finally succeeding—which may have given the betraying -clue to our pursuers.</p> - -<p>"Your planets must be burst asunder—this particular planet in the -area of the Pacific—so that we may have our last chance to escape. -Even if we did not move, our pursuers would destroy you with us. We -cannot invite you inside our ships—not for lack of space, but because -you could never survive the vast accelerations to which you would be -subjected. You would, you see, need very special accommodations, of -which we have enough only for a few.</p> - -<p>"Those few we will take with us, as the seed from which a new human -race may—if we ourselves somehow survive—be born."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Rosalind and Ivan stared dumbly at each other across the egg-shaped -silver room, without apparent entrance or exit, in which they were -sprawled. But their thoughts were no longer of thirty-odd mile -journeys down through solid earth, or of how cool it was after the -heat of the passage, or of how grotesque it was to be trapped here, -the fragment of a marriage. They were both listening to the voice that -spoke inside their minds.</p> - -<p>"In a few minutes your bodies will be separated into layers one atom -thick, capable of being shelved or stored in such a way as to endure -almost infinite accelerations. Single cells will cover acres of space. -But do not be alarmed. The process will be painless and each particle -will be catalogued for future assembly. Your consciousness will endure -throughout the process."</p> - -<p>Rosalind looked at her gold-shod toes. She was wondering, <i>will they go -first, or my head? Or will I be peeled like an apple?</i></p> - -<p>She looked at Ivan and knew he was thinking the same thing.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Up in the committee room, the other Wolvers slumped around the table. -Only little Dotty sat straight and staring, speechless and unanswering, -quite beyond their reach, like a telephone off the hook and with the -connection open, but no voice from the other end.</p> - -<p>They had just switched off the TV after listening to a confused -medley of denials, prayers, Kometevskyite chatterings, and a few -astonishingly realistic comments on the possibility of survival.</p> - -<p>These last pointed out that, on the side of the Earth opposite the -Pacific, the convulsions would come slowly when the entombed spaceship -burst forth—provided, as seemed the case, that it moved without jets -or reaction.</p> - -<p>It would be as if the Earth's vast core simply vanished. Gravity would -diminish abruptly to a fraction of its former value. The empty envelope -of rock and water and air would slowly fall together, though at the -same time the air would begin to escape from the debris because there -would no longer be the mass required to hold it.</p> - -<p>However, there might be definite chances of temporary and even -prolonged survival for individuals in strong, hermetically sealed -structures, such as submarines and spaceships. The few spaceships on -Earth were reported to have blasted off, or be preparing to leave, with -as many passengers as could be carried.</p> - -<p>But most persons, apparently, could not contemplate action of any sort. -They could only sit and think, like the Wolvers.</p> - -<p>A faint smile relaxed Celeste's face. She was thinking, <i>how beautiful! -It means the death of the Solar System, which is a horrifying -subjective concept. Objectively, though, it would be a more awesome -sight than any human being has ever seen or ever could see. It's an -absurd and even brutal thing to wish—but I wish I could see the whole -cataclysm from beginning to end. It would make death seem very small, a -tiny personal event.</i></p> - -<p>Dotty's face was losing its blank expression, becoming intent and -alarmed.</p> - -<p>"We are in contact with our pursuers," she said in the -familiar-unfamiliar voice. "Negotiations are now going on. There -seems to be—there <i>is</i> a change in them. Where they were harsh and -vindictive before, they now are gentle and conciliatory." She paused, -the alarm on her childish features pinching into anxious uncertainty. -"Our pursuers have always been shrewd. The change in them may be false, -intended merely to lull us into allowing them to come close enough to -destroy us. We must not fall into the trap by growing hopeful...."</p> - -<p>They leaned forward, clutching hands, watching the little face as -though it were a television screen. Celeste had the wild feeling that -she was listening to a communique from a war so unthinkably vast and -violent, between opponents so astronomically huge and nearly immortal, -that she felt like no more than a reasoning ameba ... and then realized -with an explosive urge to laugh that that was exactly the situation.</p> - -<p>"No!" said Dotty. Her eyes began to glow. "They <i>have</i> changed! During -the eons in which we lay sealed away and hidden from them, knowing -nothing of them, they have rebelled against the tyranny of a communal -mind to which no thoughts are private ... the tyranny that we ourselves -fled to escape. They come not to destroy us, but to welcome us back to -a society that we and they can make truly great!"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Frieda collapsed to a chair, trembling between laughter and hysterical -weeping. Theodor looked as blank as Dotty had while waiting for words -to speak. Edmund sprang to the picture window, Celeste toward the TV -set.</p> - -<p>Climbing shakily out of the chair, Frieda stumbled to the picture -window and peered out beside Edmund. She saw lights bobbing along the -paths with a wild excitement.</p> - -<p>On the TV screen, Celeste watched two brightly lit ships spinning in -the sky—whether human spaceships or Phobos and Deimos come to help -Earth rejoice, she couldn't tell.</p> - -<p>Dotty spoke again, the joy in her strange voice forcing them to turn. -"And you, dear children, creatures of our camouflage, we welcome -you—whatever your future career on these planets or like ones—into -the society of enlightened worlds! You need not feel small and alone -and helpless ever again, for we shall always be with you!"</p> - -<p>The outer door opened. Ivan and Rosalind reeled in, drunkenly smiling, -arm in arm.</p> - -<p>"Like rockets," Rosalind blurted happily. "We came through the -durasphere and solid rock ... shot up right to the surface."</p> - -<p>"They didn't have to take us along," Ivan added with a bleary grin. -"But you know that already, don't you? They're too good to let you live -in fear, so they must have told you by now."</p> - -<p>"Yes, we know," said Theodor. "They must be almost godlike in their -goodness. I feel ... calm."</p> - -<p>Edmund nodded soberly. "Calmer than I ever felt before. It's knowing, I -suppose, that—well, we're not alone."</p> - -<p>Dotty blinked and looked around and smiled at them all with a wholly -little-girl smile.</p> - -<p>"Oh, Mummy," she said, and it was impossible to tell whether she spoke -to Frieda or Rosalind or Celeste, "I've just had the funniest dream."</p> - -<p>"No, darling," said Rosalind gently, "it's we who had the dream. We've -just awakened."</p> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Dr. Kometevsky's Day, by Fritz Leiber - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DR. KOMETEVSKY'S DAY *** - -***** This file should be named 51353-h.htm or 51353-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/1/3/5/51353/ - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, -set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to -copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to -protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project -Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you -charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you -do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the -rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose -such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and -research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do -practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is -subject to the trademark license, especially commercial -redistribution. - - - -*** START: FULL LICENSE *** - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project -Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at -http://gutenberg.org/license). - - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy -all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. -If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the -terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or -entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement -and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" -or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the -collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an -individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are -located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from -copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative -works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg -are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project -Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by -freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of -this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with -the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by -keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project -Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in -a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check -the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement -before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or -creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project -Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning -the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United -States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate -access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently -whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, -copied or distributed: - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived -from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is -posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied -and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees -or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work -with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the -work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 -through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the -Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or -1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional -terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked -to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the -permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any -word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or -distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version -posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), -you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a -copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon -request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other -form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided -that - -- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is - owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he - has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the - Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments - must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you - prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax - returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and - sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the - address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to - the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." - -- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or - destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium - and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of - Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any - money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days - of receipt of the work. - -- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set -forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from -both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael -Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the -Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm -collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain -"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or -corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual -property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a -computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by -your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with -your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with -the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a -refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity -providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to -receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy -is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further -opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER -WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO -WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. -If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the -law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be -interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by -the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any -provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance -with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, -promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, -harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, -that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do -or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm -work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any -Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. - - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers -including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists -because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from -people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. -To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 -and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive -Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at -http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent -permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. -Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered -throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at -809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email -business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact -information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official -page at http://pglaf.org - -For additional contact information: - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To -SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any -particular state visit http://pglaf.org - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. -To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate - - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. -unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - http://www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - - -</pre> - -</body> -</html> diff --git a/old/51353-h/images/cover.jpg b/old/51353-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index e5dec68..0000000 --- a/old/51353-h/images/cover.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/51353-h/images/illus1.jpg b/old/51353-h/images/illus1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 1334b7e..0000000 --- a/old/51353-h/images/illus1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/51353-h/images/illus2.jpg b/old/51353-h/images/illus2.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 1677c62..0000000 --- a/old/51353-h/images/illus2.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/51353.txt b/old/51353.txt deleted file mode 100644 index b038c0b..0000000 --- a/old/51353.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1301 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Dr. Kometevsky's Day, by Fritz Leiber - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: Dr. Kometevsky's Day - -Author: Fritz Leiber - -Release Date: March 5, 2016 [EBook #51353] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DR. KOMETEVSKY'S DAY *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - - DR. KOMETEVSKY'S DAY - - By FRITZ LEIBER - - Illustrated by DAVID STONE - - [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from - Galaxy Science Fiction February 1952. - Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that - the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] - - - - - Before science, there was superstition. After - science, there will be ... what? The biggest, - most staggering, MOST FINAL fact of them all! - - -"But it's all predicted here! It even names this century for the next -reshuffling of the planets." - -Celeste Wolver looked up unwillingly at the book her friend Madge -Carnap held aloft like a torch. She made out the ill-stamped title, -_The Dance of the Planets_. There was no mistaking the time of -its origin; only paper from the Twentieth Century aged to that -particularly nasty shade of brown. Indeed, the book seemed to Celeste -a brown old witch resurrected from the Last Age of Madness to confound -a world growing sane, and she couldn't help shrinking back a trifle -toward her husband Theodor. - -He tried to come to her rescue. "Only predicted in the vaguest way. As -I understand it, Kometevsky claimed, on the basis of a lot of evidence -drawn from folklore, that the planets and their moons trade positions -every so often." - -"As if they were playing Going to Jerusalem, or musical chairs," -Celeste chimed in, but she couldn't make it sound funny. - -"Jupiter was supposed to have started as the outermost planet, and is -to end up in the orbit of Mercury," Theodor continued. "Well, nothing -at all like that has happened." - -"But it's begun," Madge said with conviction. "Phobos and Deimos have -disappeared. You can't argue away that stubborn little fact." - -That was the trouble; you couldn't. Mars' two tiny moons had simply -vanished during a period when, as was generally the case, the eyes -of astronomy weren't on them. Just some hundred-odd cubic miles of -rock--the merest cosmic flyspecks--yet they had carried away with them -the security of a whole world. - - * * * * * - -Looking at the lovely garden landscape around her, Celeste Wolver felt -that in a moment the shrubby hills would begin to roll like waves, the -charmingly aimless paths twist like snakes and sink in the green sea, -the sparsely placed skyscrapers dissolve into the misty clouds they -pierced. - -_People must have felt like this_, she thought, _when Aristarches first -hinted and Copernicus told them that the solid Earth under their feet -was falling dizzily through space. Only it's worse for us, because they -couldn't see that anything had changed. We can._ - -"You need something to cling to," she heard Madge say. "Dr. Kometevsky -was the only person who ever had an inkling that anything like this -might happen. I was never a Kometevskyite before. Hadn't even heard of -the man." - -She said it almost apologetically. In fact, standing there so frank and -anxious-eyed, Madge looked anything but a fanatic, which made it much -worse. - -"Of course, there are several more convincing alternate -explanations...." Theodor began hesitantly, knowing very well that -there weren't. If Phobos and Deimos had suddenly disintegrated, -surely Mars Base would have noticed something. Of course there was the -Disordered Space Hypothesis, even if it was little more than the chance -phrase of a prominent physicist pounded upon by an eager journalist. -And in any case, what sense of security were you left with if you -admitted that moons and planets might explode, or drop through unseen -holes in space? So he ended up by taking a different tack: "Besides, if -Phobos and Deimos simply shot off somewhere, surely they'd have been -picked up by now by 'scope or radar." - -"Two balls of rock just a few miles in diameter?" Madge questioned. -"Aren't they smaller than many of the asteroids? I'm no astronomer, but -I think' I'm right." - -And of course she was. - -She swung the book under her arm. "Whew, it's heavy," she observed, -adding in slightly scandalized tones, "Never been microfilmed." She -smiled nervously and looked them up and down. "Going to a party?" she -asked. - -Theodor's scarlet cloak and Celeste's green culottes and silver jacket -justified the question, but they shook their heads. - -"Just the normally flamboyant garb of the family," Celeste said, -while Theodor explained, "As it happens, we're bound on business -connected with the disappearance. We Wolvers practically constitute -a sub-committee of the Congress for the Discovery of New Purposes. -And since a lot of varied material comes to our attention, we're -going to see if any of it correlates with this bit of astronomical -sleight-of-hand." - -Madge nodded. "Give you something to do, at any rate. Well, I must be -off. The Buddhist temple has lent us their place for a meeting." She -gave them a woeful grin. "See you when the Earth jumps." - -Theodor said to Celeste, "Come on, dear. We'll be late." - -But Celeste didn't want to move too fast. "You know, Teddy," she said -uncomfortably, "all this reminds me of those old myths where too much -good fortune is a sure sign of coming disaster. It was just too much -luck, our great-grandparents missing World III and getting the World -Government started a thousand years ahead of schedule. Luck like that -couldn't last, evidently. Maybe we've gone too fast with a lot of -things, like space-flight and the Deep Shaft and--" she hesitated a -bit--"complex marriages. I'm a woman. I want complete security. Where -am I to find it?" - -"In me," Theodor said promptly. - -"In you?" Celeste questioned, walking slowly. "But you're just -one-third of my husband. Perhaps I should look for it in Edmund or -Ivan." - -"You angry with me about something?" - -"Of course not. But a woman wants her source of security whole. In a -crisis like this, it's disturbing to have it divided." - -"Well, we are a whole and, I believe, indivisible family," Theodor -told her warmly. "You're not suggesting, are you, that we're going to -be punished for our polygamous sins by a cosmic catastrophe? Fire from -Heaven and all that?" - -"Don't be silly. I just wanted to give you a picture of my feeling." -Celeste smiled. "I guess none of us realized how much we've come to -depend on the idea of unchanging scientific law. Knocks the props from -under you." - -Theodor nodded emphatically. "All the more reason to get a line on -what's happening as quickly as possible. You know, it's fantastically -far-fetched, but I think the experience of persons with Extra-Sensory -Perception may give us a clue. During the past three or four days -there's been a remarkable similarity in the dreams of ESPs all over the -planet. I'm going to present the evidence at the meeting." - -Celeste looked up at him. "So that's why Rosalind's bringing Frieda's -daughter?" - -"Dotty is your daughter, too, and Rosalind's," Theodor reminded her. - -"No, just Frieda's," Celeste said bitterly. "Of course you may be the -father. One-third of a chance." - -Theodor looked at her sharply, but didn't comment. "Anyway, Dotty will -be there," he said. "Probably asleep by now. All the ESPs have suddenly -seemed to need more sleep." - -As they talked, it had been growing darker, though the luminescence of -the path kept it from being bothersome. And now the cloud rack parted -to the east, showing a single red planet low on the horizon. - -"Did you know," Theodor said suddenly, "that in _Gulliver's Travels_ -Dean Swift predicted that better telescopes would show Mars to have two -moons? He got the sizes and distances and periods damned accurately, -too. One of the few really startling coincidences of reality and -literature." - -"Stop being eerie," Celeste said sharply. But then she went on, "Those -names Phobos and Deimos--they're Greek, aren't they? What do they mean?" - -Theodor lost a step. "Fear and Terror," he said unwillingly. "Now -don't go taking that for an omen. Most of the mythological names of -major and minor ancient gods had been taken--the bodies in the Solar -System are named that way, of course--and these were about all that -were available." - -It was true, but it didn't comfort him much. - - * * * * * - -_I am a God_, Dotty was dreaming, _and I want to be by myself and -think. I and my god-friends like to keep some of our thoughts secret, -but the other gods have forbidden us to._ - -A little smile flickered across the lips of the sleeping girl, and -the woman in gold tights and gold-spangled jacket leaned forward -thoughtfully. In her dignity and simplicity and straight-spined grace, -she was rather like a circus mother watching her sick child before she -went out for the trapeze act. - -_I and my god-friends sail off in our great round silver boats_, Dotty -went on dreaming. _The other gods are angry and scared. They are -frightened of the thoughts we may think in secret. They follow us to -hunt us down. There are many more of them than of us._ - - * * * * * - -As Celeste and Theodor entered the committee room, Rosalind Wolver--a -glitter of platinum against darkness--came in through the opposite -door and softly shut it behind her. Frieda, a fair woman in blue robes, -got up from the round table. - -Celeste turned away with outward casualness as Theodor kissed his two -other wives. She was pleased to note that Edmund seemed impatient too. -A figure in close-fitting black, unrelieved except for two red arrows -at the collar, he struck her as embodying very properly the serious, -fateful temper of the moment. - -He took two briefcases from his vest pocket and tossed them down on the -table beside one of the microfilm projectors. - -"I suggest we get started without waiting for Ivan," he said. - -Frieda frowned anxiously. "It's ten minutes since he phoned from the -Deep Space Bar to say he was starting right away. And that's hardly a -two minutes walk." - -Rosalind instantly started toward the outside door. - -"I'll check," she explained. "Oh, Frieda, I've set the mike so you'll -hear if Dotty calls." - -Edmund threw up his hands. "Very well, then," he said and walked over, -switched on the picture and stared out moodily. - -Theodor and Frieda got out their briefcases, switched on projectors, -and began silently checking through their material. - -Celeste fiddled with the TV and got a newscast. But she found her eyes -didn't want to absorb the blocks of print that rather swiftly succeeded -each other, so, after a few moments, she shrugged impatiently and -switched to audio. - -At the noise, the others looked around at her with surprise and some -irritation, but in a few moments they were also listening. - -"The two rocket ships sent out from Mars Base to explore the orbital -positions of Phobos and Deimos--that is, the volume of space they'd be -occupying if their positions had remained normal--report finding masses -of dust and larger debris. The two masses of fine debris are moving -in the same orbits and at the same velocities as the two vanished -moons, and occupy roughly the same volumes of space, though the mass -of material is hardly a hundredth that of the moons. Physicists have -ventured no statements as to whether this constitutes a confirmation of -the Disintegration Hypothesis. - -"However, we're mighty pleased at this news here. There's a marked -lessening of tension. The finding of the debris--solid, tangible -stuff--seems to lift the whole affair out of the supernatural miasma in -which some of us have been tempted to plunge it. One-hundredth of the -moons has been found. - -"The rest will also be!" - -Edmund had turned his back on the window. Frieda and Theodor had -switched off their projectors. - -"Meanwhile, Earthlings are going about their business with a minimum -of commotion, meeting with considerable calm the strange threat to -the fabric of their Solar System. Many, of course, are assembled in -churches and humanist temples. Kometevskyites have staged helicopter -processions at Washington, Peking, Pretoria, and Christiana, demanding -that instant preparations be made for--and I quote--'Earth's coming -leap through space.' They have also formally challenged all astronomers -to produce an explanation other than the one contained in that strange -book so recently conjured from oblivion, _The Dance of the Planets_. - -"That about winds up the story for the present. There are no new -reports from Interplanetary Radar, Astronomy, or the other rocket ships -searching in the extended Mars volume. Nor have any statements been -issued by the various groups working on the problem in Astrophysics, -Cosmic Ecology, the Congress for the Discovery of New Purposes, and so -forth. Meanwhile, however, we can take courage from the words of a poem -written even before Dr. Kometevsky's book: - - "This Earth is not the steadfast place - We landsmen build upon; - From deep to deep she varies pace, - And while she comes is gone. - Beneath my feet I feel - Her smooth bulk heave and dip; - With velvet plunge and soft upreel - She swings and steadies to her keel - Like a gallant, gallant ship." - - * * * * * - -While the TV voice intoned the poem, growing richer as emotion caught -it up, Celeste looked around her at the others. Frieda, with her -touch of feminine helplessness showing more than ever through her -business-like poise. Theodor leaning forward from his scarlet cloak -thrown back, smiling the half-smile with which he seemed to face even -the unknown. Black Edmund, masking a deep uncertainty with a strong -show of decisiveness. - -In short, her family. She knew their every quirk and foible. And yet -now they seemed to her a million miles away, figures seen through the -wrong end of a telescope. - -Were they really a family? Strong sources of mutual strength and -security to each other? Or had they merely been playing family, -experimenting with their notions of complex marriage like a bunch of -silly adolescents? Butterflies taking advantage of good weather to -wing together in a glamorous, artificial dance--until outraged Nature -decided to wipe them out? - -As the poem was ending, Celeste saw the door open and Rosalind come -slowly in. The Golden Woman's face was white as the paths she had been -treading. - -Just then the TV voice quickened with shock. "News! Lunar Observatory -One reports that, although Jupiter is just about to pass behind the -Sun, a good coronagraph of the planet has been obtained. Checked and -rechecked, it admits of only one interpretation, which Lunar One -feels duty-bound to release. _Jupiter's fourteen moons are no longer -visible!_" - -The chorus of remarks with which the Wolvers would otherwise have -received this was checked by one thing: the fact that Rosalind seemed -not to hear it. Whatever was on her mind prevented even that incredible -statement from penetrating. - -She walked shakily to the table and put down a briefcase, one end of -which was smudged with dirt. - -Without looking at them, she said, "Ivan left the Deep Space Bar -twenty minutes ago, said he was coming straight here. On my way back -I searched the path. Midway I found this half-buried in the dirt. I -had to tug to get it out--almost as if it had been cemented into the -ground. Do you feel how the dirt seems to be _in_ the leather, as if -it had lain for years in the grave?" - -By now the others were fingering the small case of microfilms they had -seen so many times in Ivan's competent hands. What Rosalind said was -true. It had a gritty, unwholesome feel to it. Also, it felt strangely -heavy. - -"And see what's written on it," she added. - -They turned it over. Scrawled with white pencil in big, hasty, frantic -letters were two words: - -"Going down!" - - * * * * * - -_The other gods_, Dotty dreamt, _are combing the whole Universe for us. -We have escaped them many times, but now our tricks are almost used up. -There are no doors going out of the Universe and our boats are silver -beacons to the hunters. So we decide to disguise them in the only way -they can be disguised. It is our last chance._ - - * * * * * - -Edmund rapped the table to gain the family's attention. "I'd say we've -done everything we can for the moment to find Ivan. We've made a -thorough local search. A wider one, which we can't conduct personally, -is in progress. All helpful agencies have been alerted and descriptions -are being broadcast. I suggest we get on with the business of the -evening--which may very well be connected with Ivan's disappearance." - -One by one the others nodded and took their places at the round table. -Celeste made a great effort to throw off the feeling of unreality that -had engulfed her and focus attention on her microfilms. - -"I'll take over Ivan's notes," she heard Edmund say. "They're mainly -about the Deep Shaft." - -"How far have they got with that?" Frieda asked idly. "Twenty-five -miles?" - -"Nearer thirty, I believe," Edmund answered, "and still going down." - -At those last two words they all looked up quickly. Then their eyes -went toward Ivan's briefcase. - - * * * * * - -_Our trick has succeeded_, Dotty dreamt. _The other gods have passed -our hiding place a dozen times without noticing. They search the -Universe for us many times in vain. They finally decide that we have -found a door going out of the Universe. Yet they fear us all the more. -They think of us as devils who will some day return through the door to -destroy them. So they watch everywhere. We lie quietly smiling in our -camouflaged boats, yet hardly daring to move or think, for fear that -the faintest echoes of our doings will give them a clue. Hundreds of -millions of years pass by. They seem to us no more than drugged hours -in a prison._ - - * * * * * - -Theodor rubbed his eyes and pushed his chair back from the table. "We -need a break." - -Frieda agreed wearily. "We've gone through everything." - -"Good idea," Edmund said briskly. "I think we've hit on several crucial -points along the way and half disentangled them from the great mass of -inconsequential material. I'll finish up that part of the job right now -and present my case when we're all a bit fresher. Say half an hour?" - -Theodor nodded heavily, pushing up from his chair and hitching his -cloak over a shoulder. - -"I'm going out for a drink," he informed them. - -After several hesitant seconds, Rosalind quietly followed him. Frieda -stretched out on a couch and closed her eyes. Edmund scanned microfilms -tirelessly, every now and then setting one aside. - -Celeste watched him for a minute, then sprang up and started toward the -room where Dotty was asleep. But midway she stopped. - -_Not my child_, she thought bitterly. _Frieda's her mother, Rosalind -her nurse. I'm nothing at all. Just one of the husband's girl friends. -A lady of uneasy virtue in a dissolving world._ - -But then she straightened her shoulders and went on. - - * * * * * - -Rosalind didn't catch up with Theodor. Her footsteps were silent and -he never looked back along the path whose feeble white glow rose only -knee-high, lighting a low strip of shrub and mossy tree trunk to either -side, no more. - -It was a little chilly. She drew on her gloves, but she didn't hurry. -In fact, she fell farther and farther behind the dipping tail of -his scarlet cloak and his plodding red shoes, which seemed to move -disembodied, like those in the fairy tale. - -When she reached the point where she had found Ivan's briefcase, she -stopped altogether. - -A breeze rustled the leaves, and, moistly brushing her cheek, brought -forest scents of rot and mold. After a bit she began to hear the -furtive scurryings and scuttlings of forest creatures. - -She looked around her half-heartedly, suddenly realizing the futility -of her quest. What clues could she hope to find in this knee-high -twilight? And they'd thoroughly combed the place earlier in the night. - -Without warning, an eerie tingling went through her and she was seized -by a horror of the cold, grainy Earth underfoot--an ancestral terror -from the days when men shivered at ghost stories about graves and tombs. - -A tiny detail persisted in bulking larger and larger in her mind--the -unnaturalness of the way the Earth had impregnated the corner of Ivan's -briefcase, almost as if dirt and leather co-existed in the same space. -She remembered the queer way the partly buried briefcase had resisted -her first tug, like a rooted plant. - -She felt cowed by the mysterious night about her, and literally -dwarfed, as if she had grown several inches shorter. She roused herself -and started forward. - -Something held her feet. - -They were ankle-deep in the path. While she looked in fright and -horror, they began to sink still lower into the ground. - -She plunged frantically, trying to jerk loose. She couldn't. She had -the panicky feeling that the Earth had not only trapped but invaded -her; that its molecules were creeping up between the molecules of her -flesh; that the two were becoming one. - -And she was sinking faster. Now knee-deep, thigh-deep, hip-deep, -waist-deep. She beat at the powdery path with her hands and threw her -body from side to side in agonized frenzy like some sinner frozen in -the ice of the innermost circle of the ancients' hell. And always the -sense of the dark, grainy tide rose inside as well as around her. - -She thought, _he'd just have had time to scribble that note on his -briefcase and toss it away._ She jerked off a glove, leaned out as -far as she could, and made a frantic effort to drive its fingers into -the powdery path. Then the Earth mounted to her chin, her nose, and -covered her eyes. - -She expected blackness, but it was as if the light of the path stayed -with her, making a little glow all around. She saw roots, pebbles, -black rot, worn tunnels, worms. Tier on tier of them, her vision -penetrating the solid ground. And at the same time, the knowledge that -these same sorts of things were coursing up through her. - - * * * * * - -And still she continued to sink at a speed that increased, as if the -law of gravitation applied to her in a diminished way. She dropped from -black soil through gray clay and into pale limestone. - -Her tortured, rock-permeated lungs sucked at rock and drew in air. She -wondered madly if a volume of air were falling with her through the -stone. - -A glitter of quartz. The momentary openness of a foot-high cavern -with a trickle of water. And then she was sliding down a black basalt -column, half inside it, half inside gold-flecked ore. Then just black -basalt. And always faster. - -It grew hot, then hotter, as if she were approaching the mythical -eternal fires. - - * * * * * - -At first glance Theodor thought the Deep Space Bar was empty. Then he -saw a figure hunched monkeylike on the last stool, almost lost in the -blue shadows, while behind the bar, her crystal dress blending with the -tiers of sparkling glasses, stood a grave-eyed young girl who could -hardly have been fifteen. - -The TV was saying, "... in addition, a number of mysterious -disappearances of high-rating individuals have been reported. These -are thought to be cases of misunderstanding, illusory apprehension, -and impulse traveling--a result of the unusual stresses of the time. -Finally, a few suggestible individuals in various parts of the globe, -especially the Indian Peninsula, have declared themselves to be 'gods' -and in some way responsible for current events. - -"It is thought--" - -The girl switched off the TV and took Theodor's order, explaining -casually, "Joe wanted to go to a Kometevskyite meeting, so I took over -for him." When she had prepared Theodor's highball, she announced, -"I'll have a drink with you gentlemen," and squeezed herself a glass of -pomegranate juice. - -The monkeylike figure muttered, "Scotch-and-soda," then turned toward -Edmund and asked, "And what is your reaction to all this, sir?" - - * * * * * - -Theodor recognized the shrunken wrinkle-seamed face. It was Colonel -Fortescue, a military antique long retired from the Peace Patrol and -reputed to have seen actual fighting in the Last Age of Madness. Now, -for some reason, the face sported a knowing smile. - -Theodor shrugged. Just then the TV "big news" light blinked blue and -the girl switched on audio. The Colonel winked at Theodor. - -"... confirming the disappearance of Jupiter's moons. But two other -utterly fantastic reports have just been received. First, Lunar -Observatory One says that it is visually tracking fourteen small bodies -which it believes may be the lost moons of Jupiter. They are moving -outward from the Solar System at an incredible velocity and are already -beyond the orbit of Saturn!" - -The Colonel said, "Ah!" - -"Second, Palomar reports a large number of dark bodies approaching the -Solar System at an equally incredible velocity. They are at about twice -the distance of Pluto, but closing in fast! We will be on the air with -further details as soon as possible." - -The Colonel said, "Ah-ha!" - -Theodor stared at him. The old man's self-satisfied poise was almost -amusing. - -"Are you a Kometevskyite?" Theodor asked him. - -The Colonel laughed. "Of course not, my boy. Those poor people are -fumbling in the dark. Don't you see what's happened?" - -"Frankly, no." - -The Colonel leaned toward Theodor and whispered gruffly, "The Divine -Plan. God is a military strategist, naturally." - -Then he lifted the scotch-and-soda in his clawlike hand and took a -satisfying swallow. - -"I knew it all along, of course," he went on musingly, "but this last -news makes it as plain as a rocket blast, at least to anyone who knows -military strategy. Look here, my boy, suppose you were commanding a -fleet and got wind of the enemy's approach--what would you do? Why, -you'd send your scouts and destroyers fanning out toward them. Behind -that screen you'd mass your heavy ships. Then--" - -"You don't mean to imply--" Theodor interrupted. - -The girl behind the bar looked at them both cryptically. - -"Of course I do!" the Colonel cut in sharply. "It's a war between the -forces of good and evil. The bright suns and planets are on one side, -the dark on the other. The moons are the destroyers, Jupiter and -Saturn are the big battleships, while we're on a heavy cruiser, I'm -proud to say. We'll probably go into action soon. Be a corking fight, -what? And all by divine strategy!" - -He chuckled and took another big drink. Theodor looked at him sourly. -The girl behind the bar polished a glass and said nothing. - - * * * * * - -Dotty suddenly began to turn and toss, and a look of terror came over -her sleeping face. Celeste leaned forward apprehensively. - -The child's lips worked and Celeste made out the sleepy-fuzzy words: -"They've found out where we're hiding. They're coming to get us. No! -Please, no!" - -Celeste's reactions were mixed. She felt worried about Dotty and at -the same time almost in terror of her, as if the little girl were an -agent of supernatural forces. She told herself that this fear was an -expression of her own hostility, yet she didn't really believe it. She -touched the child's hand. - -Dotty's eyes opened without making Celeste feel she had quite come -awake. After a bit she looked at Celeste and her little lips parted in -a smile. - -"Hello," she said sleepily. "I've been having such funny dreams." Then, -after a pause, frowning, "I really am a god, you know. It feels very -queer." - -"Yes, dear?" Celeste prompted uneasily. "Shall I call Frieda?" - -The smile left Dotty's lips. "Why do you act so nervous around me?" she -asked. "Don't you love me, Mummy?" - -Celeste started at the word. Her throat closed. Then, very slowly, her -face broke into a radiant smile. "Of course I do, darling. I love you -very much." - -Dotty nodded happily, her eyes already closed again. - -There was a sudden flurry of excited voices beyond the door. Celeste -heard her name called. She stood up. - -"I'm going to have to go out and talk with the others," she said. "If -you want me, dear, just call." - -"Yes, Mummy." - - * * * * * - -Edmund rapped for attention. Celeste, Frieda, and Theodor glanced -around at him. He looked more frightfully strained, they realized, than -even they felt. His expression was a study in suppressed excitement, -but there were also signs of a knowledge that was almost too -overpowering for a human being to bear. - -His voice was clipped, rapid. "I think it's about time we stopped -worrying about our own affairs and thought of those of the Solar -System, partly because I think they have a direct bearing on the -disappearances of Ivan end Rosalind. As I told you, I've been sorting -out the crucial items from the material we've been presenting. There -are roughly four of those items, as I see it. It's rather like a -mystery story. I wonder if, hearing those four clues, you will come to -the same conclusion I have." - -The others nodded. - -"First, there are the latest reports from Deep Shaft, which, as -you know, has been sunk to investigate deep-Earth conditions. At -approximately twenty-nine miles below the surface, the delvers have -encountered a metallic obstruction which they have tentatively named -the durasphere. It resists their hardest drills, their strongest -corrosives. They have extended a side-tunnel at that level for a -quarter of a mile. Delicate measurements, made possible by the -mirror-smooth metal surface, show that the durasphere has a slight -curvature that is almost exactly equal to the curvature of the Earth -itself. The suggestion is that deep borings made anywhere in the world -would encounter the durasphere at the same depth. - -"Second, the movements of the moons of Mars and Jupiter, and -particularly the debris left behind by the moons of Mars. Granting -Phobos and Deimos had duraspheres proportional in size to that of -Earth, then the debris would roughly equal in amount the material in -those two duraspheres' rocky envelopes. The suggestion is that the -two duraspheres suddenly burst from their envelopes with such titanic -velocity as to leave those disrupted envelopes behind." - -It was deadly quiet in the committee room. - -"Thirdly, the disappearances of Ivan and Rosalind, and especially -the baffling hint--from Ivan's message in one case and Rosalind's -downward-pointing glove in the other--that they were both somehow drawn -into the depths of the Earth. - -"Finally, the dreams of the ESPs, which agree overwhelmingly in the -following points: A group of beings separate themselves from a godlike -and telepathic race because they insist on maintaining a degree of -mental privacy. They flee in great boats or ships of some sort. They -are pursued on such a scale that there is no hiding place for them -anywhere in the universe. In some manner they successfully camouflage -their ships. Eons pass and their still-fanatical pursuers do not -penetrate their secret. Then, suddenly, they are detected." - -Edmund waited. "Do you see what I'm driving at?" he asked hoarsely. - - * * * * * - -He could tell from their looks that the others did, but couldn't bring -themselves to put it into words. - -"I suppose it's the time-scale and the value-scale that are so hard for -us to accept," he said softly. "Much more, even, than the size-scale. -The thought that there are creatures in the Universe to whom the whole -career of Man--in fact, the whole career of life--is no more than a few -thousand or hundred thousand years. And to whom Man is no more than a -minor stage property--a trifling part of a clever job of camouflage." - -This time he went on, "Fantasy writers have at times hinted all sorts -of odd things about the Earth--that it might even be a kind of single -living creature, or honeycombed with inhabited caverns, and so on. -But I don't know that any of them have ever suggested that the Earth, -together with all the planets and moons of the Solar System, might -be...." - -In a whisper, Frieda finished for him, "... a camouflaged fleet of -gigantic spherical spaceships." - -"_Your guess happens to be the precise truth._" - -At that familiar, yet dreadly unfamiliar voice, all four of them swung -toward the inner door. Dotty was standing there, a sleep-stupefied -little girl with a blanket caught up around her and dragging behind. -Their own daughter. But in her eyes was a look from which they cringed. - -She said, "I am a creature somewhat older than what your geologists -call the Archeozoic Era. I am speaking to you through a number of -telepathically sensitive individuals among your kind. In each case my -thoughts suit themselves to your level of comprehension. I inhabit the -disguised and jetless spaceship which is your Earth." - -Celeste swayed a step forward. "Baby...." she implored. - -Dotty went on, without giving her a glance, "It is true that we planted -the seeds of life on some of these planets simply as part of our -camouflage, just as we gave them a suitable environment for each. And -it is true that now we must let most of that life be destroyed. Our -hiding place has been discovered, our pursuers are upon us, and we must -make one last effort to escape or do battle, since we firmly believe -that the principle of mental privacy to which we have devoted our -existence is perhaps the greatest good in the whole Universe. - -"But it is not true that we look with contempt upon you. Our whole race -is deeply devoted to life, wherever it may come into being, and it is -our rule never to interfere with its development. That was one of -the reasons we made life a part of our camouflage--it would make our -pursuers reluctant to examine these planets too closely. - -"Yes, we have always cherished you and watched your evolution with -interest from our hidden lairs. We may even unconsciously have shaped -your development in certain ways, trying constantly to educate you away -from war and finally succeeding--which may have given the betraying -clue to our pursuers. - -"Your planets must be burst asunder--this particular planet in the -area of the Pacific--so that we may have our last chance to escape. -Even if we did not move, our pursuers would destroy you with us. We -cannot invite you inside our ships--not for lack of space, but because -you could never survive the vast accelerations to which you would be -subjected. You would, you see, need very special accommodations, of -which we have enough only for a few. - -"Those few we will take with us, as the seed from which a new human -race may--if we ourselves somehow survive--be born." - - * * * * * - -Rosalind and Ivan stared dumbly at each other across the egg-shaped -silver room, without apparent entrance or exit, in which they were -sprawled. But their thoughts were no longer of thirty-odd mile -journeys down through solid earth, or of how cool it was after the -heat of the passage, or of how grotesque it was to be trapped here, -the fragment of a marriage. They were both listening to the voice that -spoke inside their minds. - -"In a few minutes your bodies will be separated into layers one atom -thick, capable of being shelved or stored in such a way as to endure -almost infinite accelerations. Single cells will cover acres of space. -But do not be alarmed. The process will be painless and each particle -will be catalogued for future assembly. Your consciousness will endure -throughout the process." - -Rosalind looked at her gold-shod toes. She was wondering, _will they go -first, or my head? Or will I be peeled like an apple?_ - -She looked at Ivan and knew he was thinking the same thing. - - * * * * * - -Up in the committee room, the other Wolvers slumped around the table. -Only little Dotty sat straight and staring, speechless and unanswering, -quite beyond their reach, like a telephone off the hook and with the -connection open, but no voice from the other end. - -They had just switched off the TV after listening to a confused -medley of denials, prayers, Kometevskyite chatterings, and a few -astonishingly realistic comments on the possibility of survival. - -These last pointed out that, on the side of the Earth opposite the -Pacific, the convulsions would come slowly when the entombed spaceship -burst forth--provided, as seemed the case, that it moved without jets -or reaction. - -It would be as if the Earth's vast core simply vanished. Gravity would -diminish abruptly to a fraction of its former value. The empty envelope -of rock and water and air would slowly fall together, though at the -same time the air would begin to escape from the debris because there -would no longer be the mass required to hold it. - -However, there might be definite chances of temporary and even -prolonged survival for individuals in strong, hermetically sealed -structures, such as submarines and spaceships. The few spaceships on -Earth were reported to have blasted off, or be preparing to leave, with -as many passengers as could be carried. - -But most persons, apparently, could not contemplate action of any sort. -They could only sit and think, like the Wolvers. - -A faint smile relaxed Celeste's face. She was thinking, _how beautiful! -It means the death of the Solar System, which is a horrifying -subjective concept. Objectively, though, it would be a more awesome -sight than any human being has ever seen or ever could see. It's an -absurd and even brutal thing to wish--but I wish I could see the whole -cataclysm from beginning to end. It would make death seem very small, a -tiny personal event._ - -Dotty's face was losing its blank expression, becoming intent and -alarmed. - -"We are in contact with our pursuers," she said in the -familiar-unfamiliar voice. "Negotiations are now going on. There -seems to be--there _is_ a change in them. Where they were harsh and -vindictive before, they now are gentle and conciliatory." She paused, -the alarm on her childish features pinching into anxious uncertainty. -"Our pursuers have always been shrewd. The change in them may be false, -intended merely to lull us into allowing them to come close enough to -destroy us. We must not fall into the trap by growing hopeful...." - -They leaned forward, clutching hands, watching the little face as -though it were a television screen. Celeste had the wild feeling that -she was listening to a communique from a war so unthinkably vast and -violent, between opponents so astronomically huge and nearly immortal, -that she felt like no more than a reasoning ameba ... and then realized -with an explosive urge to laugh that that was exactly the situation. - -"No!" said Dotty. Her eyes began to glow. "They _have_ changed! During -the eons in which we lay sealed away and hidden from them, knowing -nothing of them, they have rebelled against the tyranny of a communal -mind to which no thoughts are private ... the tyranny that we ourselves -fled to escape. They come not to destroy us, but to welcome us back to -a society that we and they can make truly great!" - - * * * * * - -Frieda collapsed to a chair, trembling between laughter and hysterical -weeping. Theodor looked as blank as Dotty had while waiting for words -to speak. Edmund sprang to the picture window, Celeste toward the TV -set. - -Climbing shakily out of the chair, Frieda stumbled to the picture -window and peered out beside Edmund. She saw lights bobbing along the -paths with a wild excitement. - -On the TV screen, Celeste watched two brightly lit ships spinning in -the sky--whether human spaceships or Phobos and Deimos come to help -Earth rejoice, she couldn't tell. - -Dotty spoke again, the joy in her strange voice forcing them to turn. -"And you, dear children, creatures of our camouflage, we welcome -you--whatever your future career on these planets or like ones--into -the society of enlightened worlds! You need not feel small and alone -and helpless ever again, for we shall always be with you!" - -The outer door opened. Ivan and Rosalind reeled in, drunkenly smiling, -arm in arm. - -"Like rockets," Rosalind blurted happily. "We came through the -durasphere and solid rock ... shot up right to the surface." - -"They didn't have to take us along," Ivan added with a bleary grin. -"But you know that already, don't you? They're too good to let you live -in fear, so they must have told you by now." - -"Yes, we know," said Theodor. "They must be almost godlike in their -goodness. I feel ... calm." - -Edmund nodded soberly. "Calmer than I ever felt before. It's knowing, I -suppose, that--well, we're not alone." - -Dotty blinked and looked around and smiled at them all with a wholly -little-girl smile. - -"Oh, Mummy," she said, and it was impossible to tell whether she spoke -to Frieda or Rosalind or Celeste, "I've just had the funniest dream." - -"No, darling," said Rosalind gently, "it's we who had the dream. We've -just awakened." - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Dr. Kometevsky's Day, by Fritz Leiber - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DR. KOMETEVSKY'S DAY *** - -***** This file should be named 51353.txt or 51353.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/1/3/5/51353/ - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, -set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to -copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to -protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project -Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you -charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you -do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the -rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose -such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and -research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do -practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is -subject to the trademark license, especially commercial -redistribution. - - - -*** START: FULL LICENSE *** - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project -Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at -http://gutenberg.org/license). - - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy -all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. -If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the -terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or -entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement -and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" -or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the -collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an -individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are -located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from -copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative -works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg -are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project -Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by -freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of -this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with -the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by -keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project -Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in -a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check -the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement -before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or -creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project -Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning -the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United -States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate -access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently -whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, -copied or distributed: - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived -from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is -posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied -and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees -or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work -with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the -work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 -through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the -Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or -1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional -terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked -to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the -permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any -word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or -distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version -posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), -you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a -copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon -request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other -form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided -that - -- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is - owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he - has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the - Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments - must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you - prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax - returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and - sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the - address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to - the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." - -- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or - destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium - and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of - Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any - money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days - of receipt of the work. - -- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set -forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from -both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael -Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the -Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm -collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain -"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or -corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual -property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a -computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by -your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with -your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with -the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a -refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity -providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to -receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy -is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further -opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER -WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO -WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. -If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the -law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be -interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by -the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any -provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance -with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, -promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, -harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, -that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do -or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm -work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any -Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. - - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers -including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists -because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from -people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. -To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 -and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive -Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at -http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent -permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. -Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered -throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at -809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email -business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact -information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official -page at http://pglaf.org - -For additional contact information: - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To -SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any -particular state visit http://pglaf.org - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. -To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate - - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. -unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - http://www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/old/51353.zip b/old/51353.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index fbd9f1f..0000000 --- a/old/51353.zip +++ /dev/null |
